Tube frame



Jan. 28, 1936. E, F, CLARK '2,029,254

TUBE FRAME Filed May l0, 1934 i I I Patented Jan. Z8, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE TUBE FRAME Application May 10, 1934, Serial No. 724,854

2 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in tube frames for use in series in looms for weaving tufted pile fabrics.

Each of such frames includes a carrier bar provided with bearings in which a yarn carrying spool is journaled, and provided also Vwith a series of tubes or other guiding devices for the reception and guidance of the tuft yarns which are drawn from the spool during the weaving operation.

The object of the invention is to provide a novel, simple and advantageous brake applying means for the yarn carrying spool which may be easily and accurately adjusted into proper working relation to the spool, which will permit the starting of the turning action of the spool each time yarn is drawn therefrom, without undue strain upon the yarn, and which will permit the brake applying means of each of a series of tube frames to be easily adjusted Vto provide the same lbraking action of the spool of each frame and thereby provide a uniform tension for the yarns of the spools of all the frames of the series thereof for uniform tuft weaving.

The invention resides in the elements and the combinations of them hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawing, illustrating the invention,

Figure 1 is a back View of the two end portions of a tube frame embodying my invention, parts of the frame between the ends thereof being broken out.

Figure 2 is a transverse section through the frame, on line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Figure 3 is an enlarged section through the brake arm and its fulcrum spring and adjuncts, on line 3-3 of Fig. l.

Referring to the drawing, 4 designates the long carrier bar of the tube frame, 5 the spool bearings projecting from the respective ends of the bar 4, and 6 the spool for carrying the tuft yarns.

The spool 6 comprises the long cylindrical body 1 provided with end heads 8 and the usual trunnions 9 which are fitted to rotate in the bearings 5.

The spool 6 is adapted to carry the tuft yarns which are drawn therefrom to and through the tubes I6 of the carrier bar 4 in the usual manner each time the tube lframe is introduced to the weaving instrumentalities of the loom during the weaving operation.

The respective ends of the carrier bar 4 are provided with the usual oppositely disposed chain engaging `arms Ii and latches I2 for permitting the tube frame to be connected to and disconnected from the chains of the loom which carry the series of tube frames and bring them successively into position vfor delivering tuft yarns.

The carrier bar 4 is provided with a brake applying device I4 adjacent to each spool head 8 for applying a braking pressure thereto, and each device I4 is constructed in accordance with my invention as follows:

Mounted on the carrier bar 4 is a resilient brake arm I5 which is constructed of sheet spring steel. This arm I5 is elongated in form and it extends longitudinally of the bar v4. The outer end portion of the arm I5 is located between the bar 4 and the adjacent spool head 8, and the inner end portion of the arm is secured to the bar 4 by screws I6 orother suitable means.

'Ihe outer end portion of the arm I5 has a pad I6 of leather or other appropriate material secured thereon 'by any suitable means. This pad I6 is provided to vbear against the adjacent spool head 8 for the vdesired braking pressure and friction.

The carrier bar 4 is provided with a fulcrum part I'I for the brake arm I5. This part II is interposed between the bar and the arm and it is spaced inwardly from the plane of rotation of the adjacent spool head 8 and it is spaced outwardly from the inner end portion of the arm I5 which is secured to the bar 4.

When the spool 6 is removed from the tube frame, the brake arm I5 and its pressure pad I6 occupy the normal position shown by dot-anddash lines at the left hand side of Fig. 1, and, when the spool 6 is applied to the tube frame, the spool head 8 engages the pad I6 and forces the free end of the arm I5 toward the bar 4 and bends or flexes the arm on the fulcrum part I'I, as shown in full lines in Fig. 1.

The fulcrum part Il is made in the form of a spiral spring, as clearly shown in Fig. 3, so that it will be resilient and yieldable toward the bar 4 when pressure is applied to the spring as the brake arm I5 is forced from its normal position shown by dot-and-dash lines in Fig. 1, to its operative or braking position shown by full lines therein.

The fulcrum spring I'I is retained in the proper working position relatively to the bar 4 and brake arm I5 by a ring I8 which is soldered or otherwise suitably secured to the carrier bar 4. The spring I'I is seated upon the bar 4 within the ring I8 which is made round in cross section to provide an inward overhang-ing portion between which and the bar 4 the adjacent end coil or helix of the spring I'I is located. This end coil of the spring I'I i's sprung into position between the overhanging portion of the ring I8 and the bar 4 when the end portion of the spring is placed Within the ring, and, thereafter, the ring retains the spring in its working position.

The strength of the spring I'I issuch that it will yield to some extent when the pressure is applied to it by the brake arm I5 but its resistance to such pressure is such that the arm I5 will be flexed against it as a fulcrum when the arm is in the operative or braking position, so that the pressure of the arm I5 and its pad I 6 against the spool head 8 is the resultant of the combined pressures of the spring arm I5 and its spring fulcrum I1. Y

I have discovered that the employment of the resilient brake arm I5 and kthe yieldable fulcrum I1 therefor constructed and related to each other and to the adjacent head 8 of the tuft yarn spool provides a brake for the spool which holds it against accidental rotation, and which retards the turning of the spool to produce the desired tension on the tuft yarns when they are drawn from the spool, and which permits the easy starting of the turning action of the spool without undue strain upon the yarns each time the spool is turned by the drawing of successive lengths of the yarns therefrom, and which eifectually stops the turning action `of the spool at the completion of the drawing of each of the successive lengths of yarns therefrom.

When the spool 6 is removed from its bearings 5 the arm I5 may be bent either up or down beyond its `elastic limit in the region of the inner end portion thereof which is secured to the carrier bar 4, so that the free end of the arm I5, in the normal position thereof, will occupy aposition either farther from or closer to the carrier bar 4 for the regulation of braking action or pressure of the brake device against the spool head. By thus bending and adjusting the brake arms I5 of the tube frames of a series thereof before the spools are applied thereto and testing the pres-v sure of the arms by placing a given weight on the free end thereof, and continuing such adjustment until the weight placed upon each arm moves the free end portion thereof to a given position with relation to the carrier bar II, the brake devices of al1 the tube frames of the series will provide a uniform braking action for the spools thereof for uniform tension on the yarns of all the spools with the result that the tufts of the finished fabric woven by the aid of the'series of tube frames will be of uniform character.

I claim:

1. In a tube frame, a carrier bar provided with spool bearings and having a ring secured thereon, a spool journaled in the bearings and having an end head, a resilient brake arm extending longitudinally of the bar and having an inner end portion secured thereto and an outer free end portion provided with a part constructed to press against said head when the arm is sprung from a normal condition, and a spiral spring interposed between said arm and said bar and seated within said ring and spaced outwardly from said inner end portion and inwardly from the plane of rotation of said head and forming a fulcrum for said arm for flexing the same between its inner end and said plane when it is sprung from said normal condition.

2. In a tube frame, a carrier bar provided with spool bearings and having a ring secured thereon, a spool journaled in the bearings and having an end head, a brake arm extending longitudinally of the bar and having an inner end portion connected thereto and an outer end portion movable toward and from said head and provided With a part constructed to press against the same, and a spiral spring interposed between said arm and said bar and seated within said ring and pressing said arm toward said head, said ring having an overhanging portion retaining a part of said spring between it and said bar.

EUGENE F. CLARK. 

